True or false: a foodborne illness is a disease that is transmitted to people by food.

The statement that a foodborne illness is a disease that is transmitted to people by food is true. It is an infection of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract caused by food or beverages that contain harmful parasites(examples: Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia intestinalis are parasites that are spread through water ), bacteria (examples: Salmonella, Escherichia coli..) or viruses (people who are infected with a virus may contaminate food and drinks).

It is TRUE that foodborne illness is a disease that is transmitted to people by food.

Foodborne illness is commonly referred to food poisoning, is a disease that occurs when a person consumes a food that contains harmful microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, parasites) or food that contains harmful chemical.

There are three types of food hazards that can cause illness:

Biological hazards are microorganisms in food that cause illnesses such as  Salmonella spp. Hepatitis A and Trichinella spiralis.

Physical hazards are foreign matter found in food that may cause injury or sickness when ingested. Examples include metal and glass fragments.  

Chemical hazards include chemicals that are naturally occurring (such as allergens), intentionally added substances (including preservatives, food coloring, etc) and unintentionally added chemicals (like cleaning chemicals, agricultural chemicals, etc) in food at amounts that are dangerous to humans. These substances may trigger allergic reactions, production of toxins, poisoning, and injuries.  

Cross-contamination is the process of transferring hazards to food from other food, cutlery, and kitchenware when they are improperly handled. This can be prevented by following food safety protocols such as, but not limited to, good hygiene practices, and HACCP.

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Keywords: foodborne, disease, food poisoning, food, food safety

a1 = unhealthy

a2= healthy

a3= healthy